Machine for sewing baglike structures and the like



Dec. 21, 1965 R. DOBNER ETAL 3,224,394

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United States Patent 3,224,394 MACHINE FOR SEWING BAGLIKE STRUCTURES ANDTHE LIKE Reinhold Dobner and Oslrar Braun, Kaiserslautern-Pfalz, andHeinz Ulmer, Kirchentellinsfurt, Kreis Tubingen, Germany, assignors toG. M. Pfaif A.G., Kaiserslautern- Pfalz, Germany, a corporation ofGermany Filed May 28, 1964, Ser. No. 370,769 Claims priority,application Germany, May 31, 1963, P 31,950 12 Claims. (Cl. 11210) Thepresent invention relates to a machine for the sewing or fabrication ofbaglike structures and the like, more particularly, though notlimitatively, structures of the type being closed along three sides andfitted with suitable closure means, such as pillow cases, blanket andthe like cases made of flexible or pliable material (cloth, fabric,plastic, etc.) supplied in the form of a continuous web wound upon asupply roll from which blanks or work pieces of appropriate length arewithdrawn intermittently, cut to the desired length and fed insuccession to the hemming, sewing and associated operating stations ofthe machine.

Baglike structures having an open side, such as bags, sacks, pouches andthe like have been manufactured in the past by withdrawing a blank ofmaterial from a supply roll, having a width equal to the length of thestructures to be produced and having a length equal to twice the widthof said structures, and cutting the withdrawn blank and folding the sameabout a symmetry line by the aid of a vertically moving, folding bar orplate. The folded work piece or blank having a vertical position is thenreturned to its horizontal position by the aid of inclined conveyerbands, whereupon a longitudinal seam is sewn by a first sewing machinealong one of the lateral edges parallel to the feeding direction of theblank. The thus obtained work piece being closed at two sides, as aresult of the folding and first sewing operation, is then fed at rightangle to its original feeding direction to a second sewing machinedisposed at right angle to said first machine, for the sewing of a seamalong the still open side parallel to the new feeding direction.

Sewing arrangements of the foregoing type are suited for the fabricationof pouches, or similar bags of relatively small size or surface area, asdisinct, for instance, from pillow or blanket cases or the likerelatively large baglike structures. Besides, pillow and blanket casesmust be hemmed along their outer, in particular cut, edges beforefolding and being sewn into the baglike structures. For this and otherreasons they cannot be fabricated simply and economically by use of theprior methods or machines.

An important object of the present invention is, therefore, theprovision of an improved and fully integrated machine or manufacturingassembly for the sewing of baglike structures, in particular, structuresof relatively large size, such as pillow and blanket cases of both theopen and closed type, though not limited thereto, said machine beingsubstantially devoid of the shortcomings and defects inherent in theknown devices or machines known according to the prior art.

Among the more specific objects of the invention is the provision of amachine or sewing assembly of the referred to type which is both compactin size and simple in construction, as well as efiicient in operation,whereby to allow of the frabrication of relatively large baglikestructures or the like units or products economically and expeditiously;which machine will enable the size of the structures to be varied simplyand readily without essential changes or readjustments; which will allowof the 3,224,394 Patented Dec. 21, 1965 sewing of either open or closedbaglike structures in the course of the fully integrated step-by-stepoperation of the machine,

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a machine orsewing assembly of the referred to type being characterized by therequirement of a minimum of mounting space, whereby to allow of theeflicient and expeditious fabrication of large pillow or blanket casesor the like structures or fabric pieces.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a fully automaticand integrated sewing apparatus or machine of the type referred tocomprising a plurality of operating units or stations each designed toperform its individual function substantially separately from the otherunits, such as cutting, folding, hemming, sewing and turning of aworkpiece initially withdrawn from a continuous web or supply roll,whereas all said units are operated step-by-step and in unison for thecontinuous fabrication of baglike structures or the like units, saidmachine being both simple and compact in design as well as economicaland reliable in operation.

The invention, both as to the foregoing and ancillary objects as well asnovel aspects thereof, will be better understood from the followingdetailed description of a preferred practical embodiment in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a complete integrated sewing assemblyfor producing baglike structures, constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the work withdrawing, folding and cuttingstation of the machine according to FIG. 1, shown in the normal orstarting position;

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 1, showing the operating parts in the workfolding and cutting position;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line IVIV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional View taken on line VV of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line VIVI of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on line VII-VII of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a schematic end view of the hemming station of the machineaccording to FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a more detailed and schematic view, showing the hemmingmechanism on an enlarged scale in the starting position, the endposition being indicated in dot-dash lines in the drawing;

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view more clearly showing the hemming tools ofFIG. 9 in the starting position;

FIG. 11 shows the hemming tools in an intermediate position during a hemforming operation;

FIG. 12 shows the hemming tools in the end position;

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of the hem sewing station of FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is an end view of the button and buttonhole sewing station ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 15 is an end view of the work re-orienting and longitudinal seamingstation of the machine of FIG. 1, shown in the starting position;

FIG. 16 shows the work re-orienting mechanism of FIG. 15 in theoperative or end position;

FIG. 17 is a side view of the final station of FIG. 1 for inside outturning of the baglike structures produced;

FIG. 18 is a partial perspective view of FIG. 17 more clearly showingthe turning mechanism for the small fold of the baglike structures;

FIG. 19 is a plan view of the turning mechanism of FIG. 18 in thestarting position;

FIG. 20 is a view similar to FIG. 19, showing the turning mechanism inan intermediate operating position; and

FIG. 21 is a plan view showing the end position of the turning mechanismof FIG. 18.

Like reference characters denote like parts throughout the differentviews of the drawings.

With the foregoing objects in view, the invention, according to oneaspect as shown by the drawings, involves the provision of a completelyintegrated sewing aggregate or machine for the sewing or fabrication ofbaglike structures of flexible or pliable material being fitted withclosure means spaced from one edge thereof, in particular pillow andblanket cases, said machine embodying stationary hemming, hem sewing andbuttonhole and button sewing machine units or devices for thefabrication of structures of varying size or length. This basic aim isachieved essentially, according to the invention, by the provision ofmeans to clamp or hold the free end of a webof material, having beeninitially withdrawn from a supply roll, against a first horizontalsupporting surface, of further means adjoining said surface to draw saidweb at right angle to said surface into a vertical U-shaped blank orworkpiece, of means to hold or clamp the opposite end of the drawn offblank against a second horizontal supporting surface being parallel toand horizontally spaced from said first surface, and final means to cutsaid web at a point closely adjacent to said second surface, to therebyprovide a workpiece in the form of a reversely bent blank of materialdisposed in a vertical position and having outwardly bent en'dportionsoverlying said' surfaces. The workpiece is fed successively by the aidof suitable feeding means operatively engaging said end portions atright angle to the original withdrawing direction, or in a directionparallel to the plane of the workpiece, to the hemming, hem-sewing,buttonhole and button sewing, longitudinal seaming and turning stationsof the machine all being controlled or operated intermittently by asuitable program, switch mechanism, in such a manner as to result in thecompleted baglike structures being discharged from the output end of themachine, in the manner as will become further apparent as thedescription proceeds.

In the case of structures or cases fitted with buttonhole and buttonclosure means spaced from an edge of the cases, the supporting surfacesof the bent end portions of the workpiece are advantageously disposed atdifferent vertical heights or levels spaced from one another by adistance being equal to the sum of the widths of said end portions, thatis, to provide a U-shaped workpiece having legs of unequal length. Morespecifically, in the latter case the buttonholes are sewn upon the endportion of the shorter leg of the workpiece and the buttons are sewnupon the end portion of the longer leg of the workpiece, to result inthe proper cooperative relation upon finally turning inside out thecompleted structures, as will be further understood from the followingdescription in reference to drawings.

The folded workpiece, being provided with transverse hems and fittedwith buttons and buttonholes, is reoriented, prior to its feeding to themachines for the sewing the longitudinal seams, from its normallyvertical to a horizontal operating position simultaneously with theturning over of the end portions into the plane of the workpiece. Afterthe sewing of the longitudinal seams, the workpiece, including both alarge and small fold, is turned inside out in a final turning station ofthe assembly, to result in a completed baglike structure with the seamsand hems being invisible and with the buttons and buttonholes in propercooperative relation to each other. I

In a machine of the referred to type, a variation of the length of thestructures or size of the cases may be achieved simply and readily by achange of the stroke of the web Withdrawing means and the work foldingmeans, substantially Witho t any change or readjfistments of theremainder of the machine, such as a change of position of the hemmingdevices, sewing machines, etc. As a consequence, the same machine willenable, for instance, the sewing of both pillow and blanket cases, or ingeneral the withdrawing, hemming and cutting of blanks of any desiredlength from the web of material or supply roll.

In the realization of a machine of the referred to type, it is necessaryto seize the depending free end of the web initially drawn off thesupply roll and to operate the same to a position underneath a foldingplate such as to assume a final position essentially at right angle tothe referred to outer end portions of the cut blank or workpiece.Mechanism according to the invention for effecting the latter operationof an especially simple construction and involving the provision of asingle swinging member for the re-orientation of the free end of theweb, advantageously consists in the supporting member of the end of theweb being rotatably mounted upon the end of a swinging arm being fittedwith a sprocket which is engaged by a chain having its free ends affixedto a pair of stationary anchoring points, in such a manner that rotationof said arm through a predetermined angle will result in a rotation ofsaid member from its initially vertical to a horizontal end position.

In the manufacture of pillow or blanket cases it is desirable, foresthetic and other reasons, to arrange the closure means at a distancefrom an edge of the structures. This requirement may be readily compliedwith by the invention by the formation of the U-shaped workpiece withunequal legs and by the mounting of the hemming devices, hem sewingmachines and buttonhole and button sewing machines at different verticalheights or levels spaced by a predetermined distance in the mannerpointed out hereinbefore.

Inasmuch as in the case of pillow and blanket cases the distance of theclosure means from an edge of the cases remains the same, or isindependent of the size of the cases, it is possible to sew cases ofvarying size With the aid of the machine according to the presentinvention substantially without readjustments of or change of theposition of the sewing machines, as will be further understood from thedescription of the drawings.

From the foregoing as well as from the description which follows, itwill be seen that the compactness or minimum mounting space required bya machine according to the invention is predicated principally on thecarrying out of all the sewing and related operations, with theexception of the sewing of the longitudinal seams, in the foldedvertical position of the workpiece and its feeding successively from oneto the next operating station in a direction coinciding with the planethereof, or at right angle to the direction of withdrawal from thesupply roll.

In order to sew the longitudinal seams, it is necessary to re-orient orswing the workpieces from the vertical to a horizontal position, or totransfer a workpiece from a first conveyer to a second conveyer being atright angle to said first conveyer. This may be accomplished in a simpleand efiective manner by the aid of a pair of vertical turnover platesenclosing the workpiece and being rotatable to a horizontal position.

In order to reduce the operating time, several of the operating stepsmay be carried out simultaneously. Thus, in order to turn the endportions of the workpiece to a position in line with the plane thereofsimultaneously with the operation of the turnover plates, each of thelatter may be fitted at its outer end with a folding flap controlled andoperated by the swinging movement of the plates, in such a manner as tocause one of the flaps to form a prolongation of the associated plateand to cause the other flap to engage its associated plate in the caseof closed structures, or that both flaps form prolongations of theirassociated plates in the case of open baglike structures, respectively.

Upon eompletionof'the sewing p ration the seams and hems must berendered invisible by inside out turning of the structures. For thispurpose, it is customary to utilize turning rails being inserted intothe folds of the structures and cooperating with counter rails for thecarrying out of the turning operations.

In accordance with the present invention, in a further elfort toincrease the compactness and reduce mounting space, a drum-shapedturning device comprising sectorshaped turning rails is utilized, asshown and further understood from the following description of thedrawings.

The machine for carrying into effect the invention as shown by thedrawings comprises essentially a work withdrawal, folding and cuttingstation A, FIG. 1, a hemming station B, a hem sewing station C forproducing a hem along the transverse or cut edges of a workpiece orblank withdrawn from a supply roll forming part of station A, a buttonand buttonhole sewing station D, a work reorienting station E, a furthersewing station F for seaming the longitudinal edges of a foldedworkpiece, and finally a turning station G for turning the sewn baglikestructures inside out so as to render invisible the longitudinal seamsand the crosswise hems, in a manner as will become further apparent asthe description proceeds.

More specifically, the work withdrawl and folding station A comprises aframe or support 1, FIG. 1, 2. and 3, rotatably supporting a supply roll2 which carries a web of material to be operated on, such as cloth,fabric, plastic or the like flexible or pliable material. The web iswithdrawn from the roll 2 by means of a drawoff roller 3 being driven byan electric motor 5 which is mounted upon a support or bracket 4 andserves to drive, by way of a sprocket 6, chain 7 and a further sprocket8, a shaft 9 being journalled in the bracket 4 and carrying a pair ofgears 10 located exteriorly of the web portion drawn off the roll 2.Disposed between the gears 10 and fixedly secured to the shaft 9 is aguide roller 11 for the web. The two gears 10 are each in meshingengagement with a counter gear (not shown) supported by a rocker arm 12also mounted upon the bracket 4. Further disposed in line with saidcounter gears is a sprocket 13 which drives, by way of a chain 14 andsprocket 15, the draw-off roll 3 mounted upon the free end of the arm12. Roller 3 is maintained in frictional engagement with the web by theaction of a spring 16 having one end secured to the arm 12 and havingits opposite end secured to the bracket 4.

Adjoining the frame 1 is a casing or support 17, wherein is journalled ashaft 18 carrying a supporting or pickup member 19 which has a pickupsurface 20 extending over the entire width of the web indicated indot-dash lines in the drawing. Fixedly connected to the shaft 18 is asprocket 21 being driven, by way of a chain 22, by a driving motor 23supported by the casing 17 and serving to swing or rotate the member 19from an initial or starting vertical position, FIG. 2, to an operativeor end (horizontal) position, FIG. 3.

Disposed laterally of the casing 17 at a predetermined spacing distanceis a further casing or support 24 upon one side wall of which is mounteda further motor 25 being operably connected with a rocker arm 28 by wayof an eccentric 26 and link 27, said arm having a horizontal axisjournalled in the base of the support 24. Journalled within the upperend of arm 25 is a shaft 30 to which is connected a second pickup member31 having a supporting surface 32 also extending across the entire widthof the web. Both pickup surfaces 20 and 32 are, in the example shown, atdifferent vertical heights in their operative or end positions, FIG. 3.Further secured to shaft 30 is a sprocket 33 engaging the bent endportion of a chain 34 formed into a U and having its free ends fixed atpredetermined spaced points to the base of the support 24 or to aspecial supporting member 35 also supporting the rocker arm 28 in theexample illustrated. As a consequence, rotation of the arm 28 about itsshaft or pivot 29 results in the rotation of the pickup member 31 aboutits axis 30 due to the varying differential between 6 the legs of thechain 34 at different angular positions of the arm 28.

Disposed between the casings or supports 17, 24 is a vertical foldingplate 36 (see also FIG. 1) having an upper end which terminates in aguide sleeve 37 slidable upon a vertical guide rod or post 38 supportedby the casing 17. Sleeve 37 is fixedly connected to an endless verticalchain 39 which is driven by a motor 41 mounted upon the base of themachine by way of a driving sprocket 40 and a guide sprocket 42 mountedat the top of the casing 17, whereby, with the motor 41 rotating in onedirection, the folding plate 36 performs an upward stroke and, with themotor 41 being rotated in the opposite direction, the plate performs adownward or work folding stroke, the latter being advantageouslyadjustable by the provision of means well known and understood.

Operably connected to the pickup member 31 is a drive unit 43 includinga pair of guide pieces 45, FIGS. 4 and 5, which are provided withlongitudinal openings or recesses adapted to receive the ends of a feedroller carrier 46. The ends of the latter are engaged by transverse pins48 encircled by compression springs 47 and connected with or formingpart of the armatures or plungers of a pair of electromagnetic solenoidsor actuators 49. As a consequence, with the solenoids 49 beingde-energized, the carrier 46 is urged in a downward direction by thesprings 47 and will be retracted upwardly during energization of thesolenoids, in a manner as will become further apparent as thedescription proceeds. The carrier 46 is fitted with feed rollers 50spaced at predetermined distances from each other, one of the extremefeed rollers having a shaft 51 to which is secured a driving gear 52adapted to mesh with, in the operative of horizontal position of themember 31, a pinion 53 being driven by a motor 54 mounted upon thesupport 24, to operate one or more endless work conveyor bands 55disposed in the feeding direction of the machine.

Mounted upon the casing 17 is a further drive unit 44 being similar inconstruction to the unit 43. In the lowered position, the gear 52 ofunit 44 meshes with the driving pinion 53' of an electric motor 54'being also supported by the casing 17, both units 43 and 44 beingoperated in synchronism in the manner described in further detailhereafter.

In order to cut a predetermined length from the Web 3', there isprovided a rotary cutting knife 56, FIGS. 6 and 7, mounted within asupport or casing 57 which is secured to the pickup member 19.Iournalled within the support 57 and exteriorly of the web 3 are a pairof sprockets 58 and 59 which are driven by an electric motor 60 andconnected by a chain 61. Secured to the upper strand of the chain 61 isa supporting plate being fitted with four guide rollers 63 which runupon a pair of guide rails 64 disposed upon the inside surfaces of thecasing 57. Continuously meshing with the lower strand of the chain 61 isa further sprocket 65 being secured to a shaft 66 which is journalled inthe plate 62. Shaft 66 carries at its opposite end a gear 67 whichmeshes with a counter gear 68 secured to a shaft 69 also journalled inthe plate 62 and carrying the knife 56.

The hem forming station B, FIG. 8, following the station A, comprises apair of supports and 81 located on either side of the U-shaped workpieceor blank 3' supplied by the station A. The supporting surfaces orplatforms 82, 83 for the end portions of the blank or workpiece 3',being located at different vertical heights in the example illustrated,are each provided at their undersurface with a hemming bar 84, FIGS.9-12, to which is secured a folding plate 85 extending over the entirelength of the blank 3, as viewed in the feeding direction, and having awidth being about equal to the width of the hem to be formed.

The tools or devices for the forming of the double folded hems upon boththe outwardly bent end portions of the blank 3' and the work feedingmeans are identical and symmetrical to one another. In the following,only one of the devices, that is, the right hand hemming device, asviewed in the feeding direction of the blank 3, will be described indetail in reference to FIGS. 9-12..

Secured to an intermediate wall 86 of the support 80,. FIG. 9, at amutual spacing distance corresponding to the width of the workpiece 3,are a pair of vertical mounting plates 89 each being provided with apair of guide grooves 87, 88 and having disposed therebetween thehemming tools 90, 91 proper which extend over the entire spacingdistance between the plates 87, 88 and are provided with pushing platesor tongues 92, 93, respectively. The hemming tool 91 is fitted above itspushing tongue 93 with a retaining bar 94 and a cover plate 95 for thehem being formed, both the latter extending over the entire length ofthe tool 91. Both hemming tools 90, 91 are each provided in thevincinity of the plates 89 with two depending arms 96, 97 adapted toreceive guide rods 98, 99 the end of which slide within the grooves 87,88 of the plates 89, respectively, for the operation of the tools 90,91.

Operation of the hemming tools 90, 91 is controlled by a pair of cams100, 101 mounted upon a shaft 102 which is journalled in the plates 89and driven by an electric motor (not shown). Cooperating with the cam101 is a rocker arm 104 provided with a follower or scanning roller 103and rotatably supported at one end by the wall 86. Jointed to theopposite end of the arm 104 is a bellcrank lever 105 to the arm 106 ofwhich is, in turn, jointed a further rocker arm 108 having its oppositeend rotatably supported by the wall 86. Furthermore jointed to the arm107 of the bellcrank lever 105 is a link 109 which is, in turn,connected, by way of an intermediate link 110, to a further dependingarm 111 of the hemming tool 91 being disposed intermediate the arms 97.A further link 112 connects the arm 111 with the vertex of the bellcranklever 105.

The hemming tool 90 is similarly provided with a depending arm 113disposed intermediate the arms 96 and being actuated by a link 114 byway of an intermediate link 115, the latter being, in turn, jointed tothe arm 116 of a further bellcrank lever 117. Jointed to the vertex ofthe bellcrank lever 117 is a rock-er arm 119 also rotatably mounted inthe wall 86 and fitted with a scanning roller 120 engaging the cam 100,while furthermore jointed to the vertex of the lever 116 is a link 121having its free end connected with the arm 113 of the hemming tool 90.Connected to the arm 118 of the bellcrank lever 117 is a further rockerarm 122 also rotatably mounted upon the intermediate wall or support 86.Both scanning rollers 103 and 120 are each maintained in frictionalengagement with. the respective cams 101, 100 by the action of springs123 secured, respectively, to the wall 86, on the one hand, and to thearms 104, 119, on the other hand. In order to retain and feed theworkpiece, there are provided upon each of the supporting surfaces 82,83, FIG. 8, driving units 125, 126 operated by an electric motor 124,FIG. 1. The construction of the drives 125, 126 may be substantiallysimilar to that of the drives 43, 44 of the station A, as will beunderstood. Since raising and lowering of the units is not requiredhere, the solenoid actuators 49 of station A may be dispensed with inthe hemming station.

The hem sewing station C, FIG. 13, is equipped with a pair of sewingmachines 127, 128, being preferably of the type enabling both straightand Zigzag stitching and support-ed each by a frame or support 129, 130,respectively, the heights of the work-supporting surfaces 131, 132 ofsaid machines corresponding, respectively, to the heights of thework-supporting surfaces of the hemming station B. Both sewing machinesare followed by drive and feed units 133, 134, FIG. 1, which may besimilar in construction to the drives 124, 125 of the hemming station Eand which. are operated in synchronism with the sewing machines 127,128.

The buttonhole and button sewing station D, FIGS. 1 and 14, is equippedwith a plurality of buttonhole sewing machines disposed adjacent to theend portion of the shorter leg of the folded work piece 3', the numberof the machines corresponding to the number of buttonholes to be sewn inthe pillow case or the like baglike structure to be produced. In placeof separate machines as shown by the drawing, one or more multiplebuttonhole sewing machines may be provided for the purpose of theinvention with the number of buttonholes being either fixed or variable,in a manner well known and understood.

Disposed at the side of the machine opposite to the buttonhole sewingmachines are a limited number, such as one half the number of themachines 140, of button sewing machines 141, inasmuch as the sewing of abutton requires a considerably lesser time compared with the sewing of abuttonhole of corresponding size. The machines 141 may be mounted upon aslide (not shown) which may be displaced to the extent of one buttonspacing distance. Thus, assuming that six buttons are to be provided,there are sewn at first the first, third and fifth buttons.Subsequently, the machines are displaced by a button spacing distancefor the sewing of the second, fourth and sixth buttons, in a mannerreadily understood. Both the buttonhole and button sewing machines maybe of conventional construction and adapted to fully automatically sew abuttonhole or button, respectively, upon starting of the machines by asuitable switch or program device.

Disposed below each of the sewing heads of both the button sewingmachines 141 and the buttonhole sewing machines 140, FIG. 14, is a driveor feed unit 142, 143 being similar in construction to the units 125,126 of the hemming station B. The units 142, 143 are supported by a pairof brackets 144, 145, respectively, which are in turn secured,exteriorly of the'bent portions of the workpiece 3', to the frames 146,147 supporting the machines 140, 141. The units 142, 143 are each drivenby an electric motor (not shown), in a manner similar to the drive unitsof the preceding stations.

The work-re-orienting station E, FIGS. 1, 15, 16, comprises a pair offrames or supports 160, 161 between which are disposed a pair ofturnover plates 162, 163. The supports 160, 161 are spaced from oneanother such as to enable ready passage of the folded Work pieces. Theplates 162, 1 63 are connected with one another exteriorly of theworkpiece at their right hand edges, as viewed in FIG. 1, plate 163 isfitted with bearing brackets 165 adapted to receive a shaft 164 which isfixedly secured to the support 161 and carries a sprocket 166 locatedexteriorly of the workpiece and secured to one side of the bearing-165of the plate 163. As a consequence, the sprocket 166 rotatestogetherwith the plates 162 and 163 about the stationary axis 164, said sprocketbeing driven by an electric motor 167 mounted upon the base of thesupport and carrying a driving sprocket 168 operably connected with thesprocket 166 through a chain 169. Each of the turnover plates 162, 163is fitted at its upper end with a rotatable folding flap 170, 171 whichextends over the full width of the workpiece, both said flaps having ahorizontal position inthe vertical position of the plates 162, 163, FIG.15, with the height of the respective work-supporting surfacescorresponding to those of the work-supporting surfaces of station D.

Both flaps 17 0, 171 are hinged, exteriorly of the workpiece 3', withthe associated turnover plates 162, 163, in such a manner as to enablerotation thereof to a position as shown in FIG. 16, that is, in linewith said plates, forthe purpose as will become more apparent from thedescription of the operation of the device. In order to effect rotationof the flaps 170, 171, by the plates 162, 163, there are provided a pairof sprockets 172, 173 being fixedly secured to shaft 164 and locatedexteriorly of the workpiece adjoining the right hand end ofthe latter,said 9 Sprockets being engaged by chains 174, 175, respectively. Chain174, in turn, engages a further sprocket 176 secured to a shaft 177which is rotatably mounted in the plate 162. Further connected to theshaft 177 is the flap 170. As a consequence, rotation of the plates 162,163 about the axis 164 will result in the flap 170 being swung relativeto the plate 162 from the (horizontal) position according to FIG. 15 toa position as shown by FIG. 16.

The chain 175 cooperating with the sprocket 173 engages at its upper enda further sprocket 178 which is secured to a shaft 180 supported in anextension 179 of the plate 163. Further secured to the shaft 180 andlaterally of the sprocket 178 is a gear 181 which meshes with a countergear 182 being in turn secured to a shaft 183 rotatably mounted in theplate 183. Further connected to the shaft 183 is the turnover flap 171.As a consequence, the flap 171 will be rotated relatively to the plate163 from the position shown in FIG. 15 to the position of FIG. 16 as aresult of the rotation of the plates 162, 163 about the axis 164 and byvirtue of the relative motion between the chain 175 and the sprocket173,

Mounted upon each of the supports 160, 161 is a driving unit 184, 185the construction of which is identical to the unit 43 of the station A,FIG. 4. Both the turnover plates 162, 163 and the folding flaps 170, 171are fitted with suction tubes 188 which serve to retain the workpiece 3'between the plates 162, 163 or against the flaps 170, 171, respectively,in the raised position of the driving units 184, 185. Secured to theundersurface of the cover plate 189 of the support 161 is a motor 190which serves to drive a number of feed rollers 194, being distributedover the entire width of the workpiece, by way of a driving sprocket191, a chain 192 and counter sprocket 193, said rollers serving towithdraw the workpiece from the station E in cooperation with a numberof further feed rollers 195 supported by the turnover plate 162 and alsobeing distributed over the entire width of the workpiece.

The station F for the sewing of the longitudinal seams is equipped witha pair of sewing machines 200, 202, FIG. 1, preferably of the type forselective straight and zigzag stitching and each being supported by aframe 202, 263, respectively. In order to ensure a smooth transition ofthe workpiece from the station E to the station F, the work-supportingheights of the machines 200, 201 coincide with the heights of the upperedge of the turnover plate 162 in its raised or end position, FIG. 16.The machines 200, 201 are operated synchronously with the continuouslyrotating rollers 194 with the machines being connected and disconnectedintermittently in accordance with the operating cycles or program of themachine.

The work turning station G following the sewing station F, FIG. 1,comprises a number of juxtaposed conveyor bands 210, FIG. 1, beingarranged at the height of the work-supporting surfaces of the machines200, 201, said bands being driven through rollers 211 secured to a shaftsupported by the inside walls 212, 213 of the support 214, FIG. 17, byan electric motor (not shown). The turning inside out of the small foldof the workpiece or baglike structure leaving the station E is effectedby a pair of turning units or devices 216, 217 being disposed adjacentto the machines 200, 201. Inasmuch as the construction of both turningdevices 216, 217 arranged at a distance equal to the width of theworkpiece is the same, only the right hand unit 216, as viewed in FIG.1, will be described in detail in the following.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, there is arranged upon the side wall 212 atthe height of the conveyer bands 210 a supporting plate 218 (see alsoFIGS. 17 and 18) upon which is rotatably mounted laterally of theworkpiece a vertical bolt 219 carrying a sprocket 220 at its upper endwhich is driven by an electric motor 222 mounted upon the side wall 212.Rotatably mounted upon the bolt 219 below the sprocket 220 is a grippingtongs device 223 having a pair of offset inner legs 224, 225 whose frontends 226, 227 entering the baglike structures to be turned are urgedtowards one another by the action of a spring 230 arranged between thelegs 224, 225 of the device.

In order to provide a minimum spreading angle of the legs 226, 227 ofthe unit 223 in the starting position, to ensure a safe entry into thebaglike structure, the plate 218 has afiixed to it a pin 231 beingengaged by the end 228 of leg 225. The end 229 of leg 224 of the unit223, engages in the starting position as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, a pin232 depending from the disk 233 secured to the bolt 219, whereby saidpin is rotated together with said disk 233. Mounted upon a further bolt234, FIG. 21, and extending from the supporting plate 218 is a doublelever 235 whose vertical distance from the plate 218 is equal to thevertical distance between said plate and the leg 229 and whose one endcooperates with the leg 229, while its opposite end is jointed to theend of a pushing rod 236 of an electromagnet or solenoid 237 alsosupported by the plate 218. In order to facilitate the entry of the leg226 into the fold of the baglike structure to be turned, there isprovided at a slight vertical distance from the conveyer bands 210 asuction tube 238, FIGS. 1 and 17, extending over the entire width of theworkpiece.

Disposed between the turning devices and the right hand end of theconveyer bands 210, FIG. 17, is a reversing bar 239 also extending overthe entire width of the workpiece and having its downturned ends securedto the side walls 212, 213. This bar serves to return the turned smallfold of the structures overlying the large fold upon turning, into ahorizontal position and in line with the large fold, in the manner aswill be further understood from the following.

The turning of the large fold of th workpiece is effected, in accordancewith the improvements of the present invention, by the aid of a turningdrum 240, FIG. 17, being rigidly mounted upon a shaft 241 which issecured to the side walls 212, 213. The drum 240 has its circumferentialsurface fitted with a plurality of suction tubes 242 which serve toretain the workpiece fed by the bands 210 upon the drum.

Disposed laterally of the conveyer bands 210, yet within the area of thework are a pair of sector-shaped turning rails or bars 243 havingessentially a recumbent U-shaped cross-section and being supported by anarm 244 rotatably mounted upon the shaft 241. Disposed laterally of andconnected with the arm 241 is a sprocket 245 being freely rotatable uponthe shaft 241 and driven through a chain 246 by an electric motor 247mounted upon the support 214. Disposed slidably within each of theturning rails 243, FIG. 1, is a further turning rail 248 being supportedby an arm 249 also freely rotatable upon the shaft 241. Disposedlaterally of and mounted upon the arm 249 is a sprocket 250 being drivenby way of a chain 251 by .a further electric motor 252 also mounted uponthe support 214. Further disposed at the right hand side of the conveyerbands 210, as viewed in FIG. 1, is a suction tube 253 extending over theentire Width of the drum 240 and serving to slightly lift the upperlayer of the baglike structures at the instant of insertion of theturning rails into the larger fold of the structures, to ensure a safeentry and smooth operation of the device.

In the following will be explained the operation of the machine shownand described in the foregoing.

Let it be assumed that the free end of the web or Workpiece 3, asindicated in dot-dash lines in FIGS. 2 and 3, has been withdrawnmanually so as to overlie the guide roller 11 prior to the starting ofthe machine. Upon starting of the motor 5, the web of material iswithdrawn from the supply roll 2 by the drawoff roller 3 such that thefree end of the web extends to the end of the surface 32 of thesupporting member 31. The solenoids 49 of the drive unit 43 are thenenergized, whereby to cause the carrier 46 to be displaced towards thesurface 32 by the action of the springs 47. As a consequence, the end ofthe web is firmly clamped against the surface 32 by the rollers 50 andthe conveyer band 55, the latter being still at rest at this stage ofthe operation. Subsequently, the motor is started, whereby the eccentric26 performs one half revolution, thereby causing the rocker arm 28 to berotated from the position of FIG. 1 to the position of FIG. 3. As aresult, of this rotation of thearm 28, the sprocket 33 supported by theshaft 30 is caused to rotate through a quarter revolution by virtue ofthe relative variation of the lengths of the strands of the chain 34,whereby the supporting member 31 normally pointing in a downwarddirection will be operated to a horizontal position, while at the sametime the gear 52 is moved into operative position relative to the pinion53 of the motor 54, as shown by FIG. 3. At the same time, the supportingmember 19 driven -by the motor 23 performs a quarter revolution, wherebyalso to be operated to a horizontal position, as shown in FIG. 3.Subsequently, the folding bar 36 driven by the motor 41 by way of thechain 39, performs its downward or operating stroke, whereby to withdrawa corresponding length of material from the supply roll 2 and tosimultaneously reversely bend or fold the withdrawn web portion or blank3'. Upon completion of the downward movement of the folding bar 36, thesolenoids 49 of the device 44 are deenergized, whereby to cause therollers and band to be lowered, or the workpiece to be clamped againstthe surface 19, as well as to cause the gear 52' to operatively engagethe pinion of the motor 54. In order to cut the withdrawn length ofmaterial, motor is now started, whereby to displace the supporting plate62 in a direction transverse .to the web 3 by way of the chain 61 and torotate, through gears 67, 68, the sprocket 65 engaging the lower strandof said chain, and, in turn, the cutter 56. The web is thus cut from thesupply roll to the desired length determined by the stroke of thefolding bar 36, which may be adjustable for the sewing of baglikestructures of different length.

After the cutting operation, the folded or U-shaped workpiece 3 with itsunequal and outwardly bent leg portions is fed in a direction at rightangle to the direction of withdrawal from the roll 2 by means of thedrive units 43, 44 operated by the motor 54, whereby the ends of theblank are retained between the supporting surfaces 20 and 32 and thebands 55 and the blank is fed to the hemming station B. Simultaneouslywith the starting of the drives 43, 44 of station A, the drive units125, 126 of station B are set in motion, to advance the leading edgeofthe workpiece 3' up to the front end of the station B at which instantthe units 125, 126 are arrested.

While thus positioned in the hemming station B, the transverse edges ofthe workpiece, FIGS. 8 and 9, are formed with a double-folded hem.Inasmuch as both hems are identical, only the formation of the righthand hem, as viewed in FIG. 1, will be described in detail in thefollowing in reference to FIGS. 8-12.

In FIGS. 9 and 10 both hemming tools are shown in the starting positionwith the outwardly bent ends of the workpiece 3 projecting beyond thesupporting surface 82 to an extent necessary for the information of adoublefolded hem. The cams 100, 101 driven by shaft 102 are now startedto rotate in the direction of the arrow, whereby the tool 91 is at firstoperated horizontally towards the left and subsequently in a slantingdownward direction and again horizontally in accordance with the designof the associated cam 101 and guide groove 87. At the end of thismovement, the hemming tool 91 assumes the position shown in FIG. 11,wherein the hemming bar 94 engages the edge of the hemming plate 84, thecover plate 95 engages the upper horizontal portion of the hem, and thepushing tongue 93 engages the underface of the horizontal hem portion,respectively. During this partial rotation of the shaft 102, thescanning roller 120 engages the concentric section of the earn 100,whereby to retain the hemming tool 90 in. the rest position,

Upon reaching the position shown by FIG. 11, the roller 103 engages theconcentric section of the cam 101, thus arresting the movement of tool91. On the other hand, the tool 90, during the continued rotation of theshaft 102, is operated at first horizontally towards the right andsubsequently in a slanting upward direction and finally againhorizontally in accordance with the shape or design of the eccentricsection of the cam and of the guide groove 88, as will be understood.During this movement, the pushing tongue 92 seizes and raises the endportion of the workpiece projecting beyond the tongue 92, to result inthe final hemming position of the tool, as shown in FIG. 12.

In the last referred to position of the hemming tools 90, 91, the shaft102 is arrested whereupon the motor 124, FIG. 1, is started, whereby tooperate the drive units 125, 126, to advance the workpiece 3' to the hemsewing machines 127, 128 having been started at the proper instant.Simultaneously with the sewing machines 127, 128, the drives 133, 134 ofstation C are set in motion, to advance the workpiece 3' to thebuttonhole and button sewing station D. Upon reaching the latter, thedrives 133, 134 are arrested and the drives 142, 143, FIG. 14, set inmotion. The latter serve to properly position the workpiece 3 underneaththe machines 140, 141 for the sewing of the buttonholes and buttons,respectively, whereupon units 142, 143 are arrested and the sewingmachines 140, 141 started. As a consequence, the buttonhole sewingmachine automatically sews a predetermined number of buttonholes uponthe outwardly bent and portion of the shorter leg of the U-shapedworkpiece, while the butt-on sewing machine 141 at first sews one halfof the buttons and then the other half after lateral displacement of themachines, in the manner explained hereinbefore.

Upon completion of the buttonhole and button sewing operations, themachines 140, 141 are arrested and the drives 142, 143 set in motion toadvance the workpiece 3, in cooperation with the lowered drive units184, 185, to the end of the reorienting station F in which position thebent end portions of the blank engage the folding flaps 170, 171,respectively. The drives 142, 143 and 184, 185 are then arrested andvaccum or underpressure applied to the suction tubes 188, to retain theworkpiece in a vertical position between the turnover plates 162, 163and to clamp it against the flaps 170, 171. The solenoids 49 of thedrive 184, 185 are then energized, to withdraw the drives from theworkpiece, whereupon the motor 167 is started to operate the plates 162,163 from the position of FIG. 15 to the position of FIG. 16.

During the swinging movement of the plates 162, 163, the suction tubes188 of the plate 163 are disconnected or disabled, whereby the foldedworkpiece adheres the plate 162. A a further result of the swingingmovement of the plates 162, 163 and due to the stationary position ofthe sprockets 172, 173, the line of contact between the chain andsprocket 173 vary in such a manner as to cause rotation of both the gear182 and sprocket 176. As a consequence, the flaps 170, 171 are rotatedor swing to the positions shown by FIG. 16 relative to the plates 162,163, whereupon at first the suction tubes 188 of the flap 171 andsubsequently all the suction tubes 188 of the station E aredisconnected. The ends of the workpiece 3' initially bent outwardly arethus swung into a horizontal position or in line with the main portionof the workpiece, that is, the bent end of the shorter leg of theworkpiece is rotated by an angle of 90 in a direction away from thefolded end of the workpiece While the bent end of the longer leg of theworkpiece is rotated by an angle of in a direction towards said foldedend, respectively. Subsequently, the driven rollers 194 seize theleading end of the workpiece overlying the rollers 195, whereby to feedthe same in a direction at right angle to its preceding movement, orparallel to the direction of the initial movement or withdrawal from theroll 2, to

13 the sewing machines 200, 201 for the longitudinal seaming of thestill open sides of the workpiece.

During the sewing of the longitudinal seams, the leading end of the nowcompletely closed workpiece engages the conveyer bands 210 being drivenin synchronism with the machines 200, 201. Upon completion of the sewingoperation and stoppage of the machines 200, 261, the bands 210 continueto advance the workpiece to a position coinciding with the right end ofthe bands, FIG. 17. During this feed movement, the leading end of thesmall fold of the workpiece reaches the suction tube 238 (positionaccording to FIG. 18). Suction is applied briefly, whereby to lift theupper layer of the workpiece and to enable the legs 226 of the turningtongs 216, 217 to enter the small fold, as shown in FIG. 19. At thisinstant, the conveyor bands 210 are arrested. Since both turning units216, 217 are identical, only the operation of the unit 216 will bedescribed in detail in the following.

After the leg 226 has entered the small fold of the workpiece, FIG. 19,the motor 222 is started, whereby to rotate the pin 232 about the bolt219 by way of the disk 233. During this rotation of the bolt 219, thepin 232 moves counterclockwise until engaging the leg 228 of thegripping tongs 223. As a consequence, the spring 230 acts on the nowfreed leg 229, whereby to cause the legs 226, 227 to approach oneanother. The pin 233 which now engages the leg 228 causes rotation ofthe latter in ,the counterclockwise direction, whereby the spring 230further acts to bring up the leg 229 such as to grip the side edge ofthe small fold of the workpiece by the legs 226, 227. During continuedrotation of the pin 232, the tongs 223 are operated through anintermediate position, FIG. 20, to a final position, FIG. 21, whereby tocause the leg 226 initially inserted in the small fold to be withdrawnand to cause the leg 227 to be inserted in the fold, to thereby turn thesame inside out, as shown in FIG. 21. At the end of the movement of thetongs 223, the solenoid 237 is energized, whereby to cause its push rod236 to rotate the double lever 235 in counterclockwise direction and toopen the tongs 223. At this instant, the conveyor bands are restarted,to advance the workpiece to a position of full engagement of its largefold with the turning drum 140 in which position it is retained by theaction of the suction tubes 242. During this latter movement, thepreviously turned small fold overlying the large fold of the workpiecereaches the reversing bar 239 to be raised thereby and returned to aposition in line with and adjoining the large fold of the workpiece.

In order to turn the large fold of the workpiece, suction is at firstapplied briefly to the tube 253, FIGS. 1 and 17, to raise the end of thelarge fold being fitted with a row of buttons sewn previously, whereuponthe motor 247 is started. The latter rotates the turning rails 243, FIG.17, in clockwise direction by way of the chain 246, whereby to causesaid rails to enter the large fold of the workpiece to an extentdetermined by the fold produced by the bar 36 of station A. The motor247 is now arrested and the motor 262 started, whereby to rotate theturning rail 248 counterclockwise. As a consequence, the latter byentering the workpiece in the opposite direction causes the turninginside out of the large fold, whereby to complete the turning operationof the baglike structure produced step-by-step from the original blankor web portion 31 drawn off and cut from the roll 2.

Inasmuch as the operating time of the stations AG varies considerably,in that for instance the sewing of the buttonholes in station D takes amuch longer time than the hemming operation in station B, the control ofthe machine is advantageously such that each station has its ownindependent operating program controlled by a suitable sequence orprogram switch or mechanism, and that the stations are operated inunison and intermittently during successive operating periods or cyclesdetermined by the longest operating time of any one station. After allthe simultaneously started stations have completed their individualoperations, each workpiece is fed to the next following station and allthe operations re-started for the carrying out of the next followingoperating cycle.

In initially starting the machine by the withdrawal and folding of thefirst blank or workpiece in station A, the machine is unable toautomatically transfer to the next operating cycle, since the followingstations B, C are still in their rest position. This makes it necessaryto effect the transfer manually step-by-step until the last station (G)has been charged with a workpiece and set into operation. From here onthe machine will operate automatically, whereby each station performsits own function independently of the preceding and following stationsand is arrested by its control device upon termination of its respectiveoperation. The machine is then advanced by one step, whereby theworkpiece in station A is fed to station B and the workpiece in thelatter is fed to station C, and so on, whereupon all the stations arere-started simultaneously for the carrying out of the next followingoperating cycle. In other words, there will be a workpiece beingoperated on at any time in all the stations, or a complete baglikestructure will be in the last (turning) station while a blank iswithdrawn from the supply roll in the first (folding) station.

In the foregoing the invention has been described in reference to theseparate operating movements of the component parts or devices, it beingunderstood that the parts or tools are returned to the startingpositions by polarity reversal or continued rotation of the drivingmotors, to enable a repeated operationof the machine in successivecycles under the control of a suitable program switching mechanism, in amanner readily understood by those skilled in the art.

Furthermore, while the invention has been described in the foregoing inreference to the sewing of closed baglike structures, such as pillowcases, blanket cases, or the like, it is understood that theimprovements presented may be used with equal advantage for themanufacture of equivalent structures or units of any size and made ofany suitable flexible or pliable material, both with or without anyspecial closure means. Thus, in the absence of the latter, thebuttonhole and button sewing machines of station D may be dispensed withand the bent ends of the workpiece or blank 3 may be at the same heightswhile passing through the machine. If the hemmed edges of the workpieceare in register, as in the case of open pillow or the like structures,the folding flaps are modified such as to cause the outwardly bent endsof the workpiece to be both swung through angles of or to be in linewith the main portions of the workpiece, in a manner readily understood.Finally, the invention, according to a further simplified embodiment,may be utilized with advantage for the simple hemm-ing of sheets, suchas table cloths, bed sheets or the like, by the provision of operatingstations A, B, and C only, to enable a continuous manufacture andhemming of the sheets or blanks drawn and cut from a supply roll, in themanner described. The advantage, among others, of such an arrangement ormethod resides mainly in the considerably reduced space of the cuttingand hemming devices due to the bent or folded condition of the workpieceor blank while being operated on. This, in turn, allows of themanufacture of relative large sheets of either simple or baglike form tobe produced efficiently and expeditiously. In the case of thefabrication of baglike structure, stations E, F, and G have to be merelyadded to the stations A, B, and C serving for simple hemming only.

In the foregoing, the invention has been described in reference to aspecific illustrative device or machine. It will be evident, however,that variations and modifications, as well as the substitution ofequivalent parts and devices for those shown herein for illustration,may be made in accordance with the broader scope and spirit of theinvention, as encompassed by the appended claims. The

specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in anillustrative rather than in a restrictive sense.

We claim:

1. A machine of the character described comprising in combination:

(1) means to temporarily hold the end portion of a web of flexiblematerial withdrawn from a supply roll against a first horizontalsupporting surface,

(2) folding means disposed closely adjacent to said surface to draw offand reversely bend a blank of predetermined length from said roll,

(3) means to hold the opposite end portion of the drawn oif blankagainst a second horizontal supporting surface,

(4) means to transversely out said web at a point closely adjacent tosaid second surface, to provide a U- shaped workpiece having a pair ofvertical leg portions depending from said end portions overlying saidsurfaces,

(5) a pair of hemming devices having stationary hemming plates eachadjoining and being in line with one of said supporting surfaces,

(6) a pair of hem sewing machines each adjoining the end of one of saidhemming devices, and

(7) work feeding means operably engaging said end portions, tosuccessively feed a workpiece in its vertical position and in adirection parallel to the plane thereof to said hemming devices and saidhem sewing machines, to form and sew a hem along the edges of both saidend portions.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, including a reorienting device withmeans to feed thereto a workpiece emerging from said hem sewingmachines, to operate said workpiece from its vertical to a substantiallyhorizontal operating position, a pair of further sewing machinesdisposed in spaced relation to one another and at right angle to saidhem sewing machines, further means to feed the re-oriented workpiece tosaid further sewing machines, to sew a pair of seams along thelongitudinal edges of said workpiece, to produce a closed baglikestructure, and a device for turning inside out said structure fedthereto upon passage through said further sewing machines.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 1, said first holding means beingcomprised of a swinging lever rotatively supporting a supporting memberat its free end having a vertical surface adjoining the end portion ofsaid web initially withdrawn from said roll, means to clamp the end ofsaid web against said member, and operating means to rotate said leverto an operative position and to simultaneously rotate said supportingmember about the end of said lever from its vertical to its horizontaloperative position.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 3, said operating means being comprisedof a sprocket connected to said supporting member and a chain engagingsaid sprocket and having its ends anchored at spaced fixed points nearthe fulcrum of said lever.

5. A machine as claimed in claim 3, said second holding means beingcomprised of a second rotatively mounted supporting member having afixed pivot and a vertical surface initially adjoining a portion of saidweb spaced from said end portion, and means to rotate said second memberfrom its vertical to a horizontal position in operative relation to saidfirst member.

6. A machine as claimed in claim 3, said folding means being comprisedof a vertically operable folding plate closely adjoining said supportingmember in the operative position, said second holding means beingcomprised of a second rotatively mounted supporting member having astationary pivot and a vertical surface initially adjoining a portion ofsaid web spaced from said end portion, means to rotate said secondmember from its vertical to a horizontal position in operative relationto said first member, and said cutting means consisting of a circularcutting knife rotatively supported by said St COI Q membe to cut saidweb, in the operative position of said second member, at a point closelyadjoining the supporting surface of said second member.

7. A machine for the fabrication of baglike structures comprising incombination:

(1) means to temporarily hold the end portion of a web of flexiblematerial withdrawn from a supply roll against a first horizontalsupporting surface,

(2) a vertically operable folding plate disposed closely adjacent tosaid surface, to draw off and reverselybend a blank of predeterminedlength from roll,

(3) means to hold the opposite end portion of the drawn off blankagainst a second horizontal supporting surface,

(4) means to transversely out said web at a point closely adjacent tosaid second surface, to provide a U- shaped workpiece having a pair ofvertical leg portions depending from said end portions overlying saidsurfaces,

(5) a pair of hemming devices having stationary hemming plates adjoiningand being in line with said supporting surfaces, to fold and hem theedges of said end portions,

(6) a pair of first sewing machines each adjoining the end of one ofsaid hemming devices for the sewing of said hems,

(7) a work re-orienting device to turn a workpiece upon passing saidsewing machines from its vertical to a substantially horizontaloperating position and to simultaneously turn said end portions into theplanes of the respective leg portions of said workpiece,

(8) a pair of further sewing machines disposed in spaced relation to oneanother and at right angle to said first sewing machines for the sewingof a pair of longitudinal seams upon the workpiece after passing saidre-orienting device, to produce a closed baglike structure,

(9) a turning device for inside out turning said structure, and

(10) work feeding means operably engaging said end portions, tosuccessively feed a workpiece, in its vertical position and in a firstfeeding direction in line with the plane thereof, to said hemmingdevices, said first sewing machines and said re-orienting device, and tothereafter feed said workpiece in its re-oriented horizontal positionand in a feeding direction at right angle to said first feedingdirection, to said second sewing machines and said turning device.

8. A machine as claimed in claim 7, including sets ofbutton-and-buttonhole sewing machines disposed between said first sewingmachines and said re-orienting device, to sew a series of buttons uponone of said end portions and to sew a series of correspondingbuttonholes upon the other of said end portions.

9. A machine as claimed in claim 7, said first and second supportingsurfaces and the associated hemming devices and first sewing machinesbeing at different vertical heights spaced by a distance about equal tothe sum of the widths of said end portions, to result in workpiecehaving unequal leg portions and in a baglike structure emerging fromsaid further sewing machines having both small and large folds, and saidturning device adapted to separately turn the small and larger folds ofsaid structure in succession.

10. A machine as claimed in claim 7, said first and second supportingsurfaces and the associated hemming devices and first sewing machinesbeing at different vertical heights spaced by a distance about equal tothe sum of the widths of said end portions, to result in a workpiecehaving unequal leg portions and in a baglike structure emerging fromsaid further sewing machines having both small and large folds, and setsof buttonandbuttonhole sewing machines disposed between said firstsewing machine a d id rt -or en i g evi e, to sew a er e of buttonholesupon the end portion of the shorter leg portion of said workpiece and tosew a series of corresponding buttons upon the end portion of the longerleg portion of said workpiece, said turning device adapted to separatelyturn said small and larger folds in succession, whereby to result in afinal baglike structure fitted with a line of buttons and correspondingbuttonholes being spaced from one side of the structure.

11. A machine as claimed in claim 7, said re-orienting device comprisinga pair of spaced parallel turning plates adapted to receive the U-shapedworkpiece therebetween, means to simultaneously rotate said plates froma vertical to a substantially horizontal position, each of said platesbeing fitted with a flap at one end engaging one of the end portions ofsaid workpiece and rotatable in response to the rotation of said plates,to turn said end portions from their position at right angle into aposition coinciding with the plane of the respective leg portions ofsaid workpiece.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1956 MacIsaac1122 8/1956 MacIsaac 1l22 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

1. A MACHINE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (1)MEANS TO TEMPORARILY HOLD THE END PORTION OF A WEB OF FLEXIBLE MATERIALWITHDRAWN FROM A SUPPLY ROLL AGAINST A FIRST HORIZONTAL SUPPORTINGSURFACE, (2) FOLDING MEANS DISPOSED CLOSELY ADJACENT TO SAID SURFACE TODRAW OFF AND REVERSELY BEND A BLANK OF PREDETERMINED LENGTH FROM SAIDROLL, (3) MEANS TO HOLD THE OPPOSITE END PORTION OF THE DRAWN OFF BLANKAGAINST A SECOND HORIZONTAL SUPPORTING SURFACE, (4) MEANS TOTRANSVERSELY CUT SAID WEB AT A POINT CLOSELY SHAPED TO SAID SECONDSURFACE, TO PROVIDE A USHAPED WORKPIECE HAVING A PAIR OF VERTICAL LEGPOR-